In recent years, as more talent has flooded the offensive side of the ball more and more often, wide receivers have become arguably the second most important position in the NFL. As the value has risen, so has the talent pool.
Last year’s wide receiver corps was rich in elite talent and depth, and while this year may not have the top-end talent, there are still plenty of high-level players available for teams to add to their stable of pass catchers.
If you’re a team looking for a wideout this spring, there’s lots of talent to choose from as we look at the top 10 wide receiver prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Top 10 Wide Receiver Prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft
| Ranking | Name | School |
| 1st. | Tetairoa McMillan | University of Arizona |
| 2nd. | Emeka Egbuka | Ohio State University |
| 3rd. | Luther Burden III | University of Missouri |
| 4th. | Elic Ayomanor | Stanford University |
| 5th. | Matthew Golden | University of Texas |
| 6th. | Tre Harris | University of Mississippi |
| 7th. | Jalen Royals | Utah State University |
| 8th. | Tory Horton | Colorado State University |
| 9th. | Pat Bryant | University of Illinois |
| 10th. | Travis Hunter | University of Colorado |
Tetairoa McMillan
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan is a modern archetype of a receiver, capable of excelling on the outside or as a slot in the mold of CeeDee Lamb and Chris Godwin. He does, however, lack the type of elite athleticism we’ve seen players like Malik Nabers come into the league with in recent years. McMillan is a polished receiver, and he can overcome that and win with technique in the right offense.
Ultimately, his NFL fit is as a high-level starter and a de facto No. 1 receiver. If he lands in an offense guided by a Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan acolyte, like Liam Cohen in Jacksonville, there’s the chance McMillan will be among the league’s leaders in receiving yards and catches by his second season.
Emeka Egbuka
The latest in a long line of Ohio State receivers, Emeka Egbuka, excelled for the Buckeyes in their National Championship run. Egbuka is a polished receiver who can exploit defenses through his intelligence if put in a position to do so. However, he lacks any elite physicality, which makes him more of a high floor than high ceiling prospect. He could be a good starter as a slot receiver or as a flanker off the line of scrimmage.
Luther Burden III
Mizzou’s Luther Burden III is a lightning fast, quick-twitch playmaker capable of making defensive players look slow even at the NFL level. He is, however, unpolished as a receiver and could be wasted by an offense and scheme that lacks creativity. At worst, he’s a ready-made gadget player and potentially a great starter.
Elic Ayomanor
Ayomanor has the height, weight, and speed make up of a good starter in the NFL, but the floor of his game suggests he could be little more than a special teamer if he fails to develop. He’ll come into the league with the opportunity to be a full-time player and, if he develops, will be a good starter.
Matthew Golden
If Burden is the best athlete at the position this year, Matthew Golden is not far behind. He’s a fast wideout with great athleticism and the type of dynamic fluidity that expands his catch radius beyond his size. However, he has the typical profile of a player who got by via athleticism his entire life, as his game lacks refinement.
Tre Harris
Tre Harris is the type of receiver coaches and quarterbacks love. Tre Harris excels at winning the ball at the catch point and often displays more physicality than the defensive players defending him. However, his athletic uprightness is concerning, and his testing results will provide valuable insights. If he can maximize his potential, a decent starting role is in his future.
Jalen Royals
Jalen Royals is another size and speed freak with a natural feel to his game in terms of both hands and body positioning on vertical routes. There are concerns around his experience and level of competition, but the strengths he possesses will translate to the next level. At worst, he’s a deep threat who can play 25% of snaps, but at best, he’s a dangerous starting wideout.
Tory Horton
While so many receivers enter the NFL with athleticism but not refinement, Tory Horton is almost the opposite. He’s a very polished receiver who should be able to play various roles. However, whether he can play them at a high level is another question. A depth receiver role is most likely for Horton.
Pat Bryant
Pat Bryant is a formidable athlete with exceptional height, weight, and speed. His physicality can overwhelm defenders. His downfall, however, is likely to be an absence of elite athleticism, especially if his perceived value to an NFL offense comes vertically. A part-time player who stretches defenses vertically would make sense for Bryant in the NFL.
Travis Hunter
The Heisman winner is the most well known name among the receivers and, on balance, is not 10th among his peers. However, it is highly likely that Travis Hunter’s NFL career will primarily focus on his defensive skills. Although the team that drafts him will undoubtedly utilize him as an offensive player from the start, his defensive value at cornerback outweighs the risk of using him frequently as a receiver.
Factors NFL Teams Consider When Drafting Wide Receivers
With the receiver position’s varied roles, the factors NFL teams consider will differ depending on the role.
For a traditional number one or two wide receiver who lines up largely on the outside of the formation, the key factors will be size (both height and weight), arm length, and explosiveness—measured largely via broad and vertical jumps and 10-yard dash times.
For receivers who play out of the slot and operate over the middle of the field, agility and change-of-direction ability are paramount. Testing for the three cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle indicates these factors.
